Dahlan is part of Abbas’ Fatah faction, and one of his main leadership rivals. He and Hamas have agreed in principle to establish a “management committee” for the Gaza Strip, which would make the tiny enclave jointly ruled by Hamas and at least part of Fatah.

That would be a big political blow to Abbas, who is already in a tenuous position after a poor showing in a recent election, one which was boycotted by most of the opposition and which he still wasn’t able to decisively win.

The reopening of crossing was a carefully planned move, the one to keep trade and transit transparent, and remove the need for the use of tunnels. Israel’s complaint has been the use of thnnels for smuggling weapons. There is no evidence of such smuggling, as the events of presumed rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza are very likely fabrication, and an exuse to bomb and damage Gaza to the maximum extent possible. Egypt is therefore legalizing trade to a limited extent to avoid Israel’s fury and more importantly, providing shipments of fuel to Gaza for their power plants. Israel has reducced supplies to Gaza to the point that they can have only three hours of electricity a day. What is not clear is the folllowing. What did US promise to
Egypt to insure that it has this latutude in dealing with Gaza. That SOMEBODY does not like it – is obvious with the increased frequency and ferocity with which Egypt troups are attacked in Sinai. In fact, it is Sinai and Egypt’s control over it that will determine the fate of Gaza. Judging from US neutrality in the issue, it alpears that Egypt is given green light, in spite of Israeli-Saudi objections. What did Egypt give in return — possibly somethinv on Libya, possibly a deal on the future of Gaza or a deal with Saudi Arabia to find a way for the kingdom to get out of the crisus on all sides. Trump actually now does not owe this much to Israel as all of his offers at the beginninv have been spurned. Israel overplayed its hand, clearly at neocon urging. But this only gives Trump more room to deal with Arabs. Political backlash will be reected in Israeli internal politics, as there will be plenty of fingerpointing.